[Buddha-l] (thread) Christianity as a threat in Japan

[John K Nelson]

Dear Buddha-l subscribers,

"JKirkpatrick" <jkirk at spro.net> has requested follow up information  
regarding...
"Why Christianity (in Japan) made such a big impact back in the 16-17th
centuries-- in other words, why it was felt by the rulers as a
big threat?"

This is a fascinating topic because of its international and global  
dimensions, as well as the way leading Buddhists in Japan played an  
active role advising rulers on what to do about Christian  
missionaries and movements.    To scratch the surface briefly,  
Christianity was perceived as a threat...

1. ...that could be managed for considerable economic gain (at  
first).  The early Christians in Japan were the Jesuits, who utilized  
new technology of the age--namely long-distance sea navigation and  
new trade routes between Europe and India, Philippines, and Macau/ 
China--to facilitate a link between trade opportunities for Asian  
rulers and their proselytizing efforts (aimed at elites).  They were  
quickly followed by rival groups, the Benedictines and Augustinians,  
who targeted the masses for conversion.

2. ...because Japan was emerging out of a period of intense internal  
conflict, and unifying efforts were subverted by more distant  
warlords (daimyo) who established pacts w/ Jesuits & traders to  
ensure the "black ships" would come to their harbors.  Until the late  
1500s, there really was no political center capable of exerting  
military control over the far-flung autonomous regions in Nagasaki,  
which became a major base of Christianity.

3. ...because of what happened in the Philippines as well as in  
China, with missionaries paving the way for later colonizing  
conquests by force of arms.  The Japanese were increasingly aware of  
and cautious about these precedents.  Japan's negative encounter with  
Christian "influences" was an important factor in its "closed  
country" edicts lasting over 220 years (1635-1858).

4. ...because the number of Christians could be increased overnight  
if a local daimyo were to convert (or seem to convert to win trade  
privileges) and then decree that his domain (and everyone in it)  
would henceforth be "Christian."  These loyalties to religious causes  
above and beyond state power were part of the problem for the  
internal conflicts of the 14th and 15th centuries, as many local  
rebellions adopted or were encouraged by True Pure Land as well as  
Tendai/Shingon ideologies and leaders.

5...because renegade samurai and disaffected peasant populations  
revolted openly at Shimabara, Kyushu in 1637, occupying an abandoned  
castle and using Christian symbols on their flags.  It took  
considerable effort and resources to overcome this resistance, with  
over 30,000 defenders killed in the final battle.

Additional details can be found here:

Berry, M.E.  (1982),  Hideyoshi, Cambridge: Oxford University Press.
Elisonas, J. (1991), "Christianity and the Daimyô," The Cambridge  
History of Japan, vol. 4.  J. W. Hall, ed.,  Cambridge: Cambridge  
University Press.
Nelson, J. (2002) "Myths, Missions, and Mistrust:  The Fate of  
Christianity in 16th and 17th Century  Japan." History and  
Anthropology 13(2): 93-111.